US5913854A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Fluid cooled ablation catheter and method for making
Assignee: Medtronic Inc
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Filing: 1997-02-04
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Granted: 1999-06-22
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Expires: 2017-02-04
Abstract
Abstract A catheter assembly (2) includes a catheter shaft (6) having a tip portion (10) with a hollow interior (30) and a linear ablation electrode (18, 34, 36, 44, 58) spaced apart from the distal end (22) of the tip portion. The electrode has an inner surface (28) which is effectively fluidly exposed to the hollow interior so that a cooling fluid (32) passing through the interior contacts the inner surface so to effectively cool the electrode. The electrode can include a series of band electrodes (18, 34) or one or more spiral electrodes (36, 44, 58). One method for making the tip portion involves mounting the electrode to a mandrel, filling the spaces between the edges (26) of the electrode with a polymer and then removing the resulting tubular structure from the mandrel. The cooling fluid can pass through a hollow spiral electrode (58) for enhanced cooling effectiveness.
Inventors
- 👤 Mark A. Maguire
- 👤 Hong Li
- 👤 Joseph M. Karratt
- 👤 Aurelio Valencia
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 02:13
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/04; A61B18/12; A61B18/14; A61B18/1492; A61B17/00; A61B17/12; A61B17/12022; A61B2018/00005; A61B2018/00011; A61B2018/00023; A61B2018/00029; A61B2018/00315; A61B2018/00345; A61B2018/00351; A61B2018/00357; A61B2018/00571; A61B2018/00577; A61B2218/00; A61B2218/001; A61B2218/002
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
98 words
An ablation catheter assembly comprising: a handle; a catheter shaft extending from the handle; the catheter shaft comprising a tip portion with a fluid passage and a distal end; at least one spiral tubular ablation electrode circumscribing the tip portion; the at least one spiral tubular ablation electrode having a fluid entrance and a fluid exit and defining a fluid flow path therebetween; and said fluid entrance fluidly coupled to said fluid passage so that a fluid passing through said fluid passage can enter and flow through said at least one spiral tubular electrode in a spiral path.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
98 words
An ablation catheter assembly comprising: a handle; a catheter shaft extending from the handle; the catheter shaft comprising a tip portion with a fluid passage and a distal end; at least one spiral tubular ablation electrode circumscribing the tip portion; the at least one spiral tubular ablation electrode having a fluid entrance and a fluid exit and defining a fluid flow path therebetween; and said fluid entrance fluidly coupled to said fluid passage so that a fluid passing through said fluid passage can enter and flow through said at least one spiral tubular electrode in a spiral path.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The catheter according to claim 1 wherein said fluid passage has a cooling fluid entrance to provide a cooling fluid to said passage and into said at least one spiral tubular electrode.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The catheter according to claim 1 wherein said at least one spiral tubular ablation electrode comprises a plurality of spaced-apart tubular spiral electrodes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The catheter according to claim 1 wherein said at least one spiral tubular ablation electrode has a circular cross-sectional shape.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The catheter according to claim 1 wherein said at least one spiral tubular ablation electrode is spaced apart from the distal end.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The catheter according to claim 1 wherein said fluid exit opens into a region external of said catheter shaft.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The catheter according to claim 1 wherein said at least one spiral tubular ablation electrode comprises a plurality of said fluid exits.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The catheter according to claim 1 wherein said at least one spiral tubular ablation electrode comprises one said fluid entrance.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The catheter according to claim 1 wherein said at least one spiral tubular ablation electrode comprises one said fluid exit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
154 words
An ablation catheter assembly comprising: a handle; a catheter shaft extending from the handle; the catheter shaft comprising a tip portion with a fluid passage and a distal end; the tip portion further comprising at least one linear ablation electrode spaced-apart from the distal end; said at least one linear ablation electrode comprising outer and inner surfaces; said inner surface being effectively fluidly exposed to said fluid passage so that a cooling fluid passing through said fluid passage effectively directly contacts said inner surface to cool the at least one linear ablation electrode; and said tip portion comprising inner and outer tubular members defining said fluid passage therebetween, said fluid passage comprising an entrance, an exit, and a pressure-sensitive portion which opens only when the fluid pressure at the entrance of said fluid passage exceeds a chosen level so the cooling fluid can pass along the fluid passage from the entrance to the exit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
154 words
An ablation catheter assembly comprising: a handle; a catheter shaft extending from the handle; the catheter shaft comprising a tip portion with a fluid passage and a distal end; the tip portion further comprising at least one linear ablation electrode spaced-apart from the distal end; said at least one linear ablation electrode comprising outer and inner surfaces; said inner surface being effectively fluidly exposed to said fluid passage so that a cooling fluid passing through said fluid passage effectively directly contacts said inner surface to cool the at least one linear ablation electrode; and said tip portion comprising inner and outer tubular members defining said fluid passage therebetween, said fluid passage comprising an entrance, an exit, and a pressure-sensitive portion which opens only when the fluid pressure at the entrance of said fluid passage exceeds a chosen level so the cooling fluid can pass along the fluid passage from the entrance to the exit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The catheter according to claim 10 wherein said at least one linear ablation electrode comprises a plurality of spaced-apart band electrodes.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The catheter according to claim 11 wherein at least one of said band electrodes is circular.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The catheter according to claim 11 wherein at least one of said band electrodes is semicircular.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The catheter according to claim 10 wherein said at least one linear ablation electrode comprises a plurality of spiral electrode.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
The catheter according to claim 10 wherein said entire inner surface of said at least one linear ablation electrode is exposed to said fluid passage.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
The catheter according to claim 10 wherein at least portions of said inner surface of said electrode are exposed to said fluid passage.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
The catheter according to claim 10 further comprising a liquid permeable porous material covering said inner surface.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
The catheter according to claim 10 wherein the inner surface is a bare surface exposed directly to said fluid passage.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
The catheter according to claim 10 wherein the fluid passage comprises a plurality of said exits.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
103 words
A method for cooling at least one spiral ablation electrode of an ablation catheter assembly comprising: positioning a tip portion of a catheter shaft of an ablation catheter assembly at a target site of a body organ; flowing cooling fluid through said at least one spiral tubular ablation electrode along a spiral path thereby cooling said at least one spiral tubular ablation electrode; whereby an improved lesion can be created by said ablation catheter assembly due to the efficient cooling of the tubular ablation electrode, thereby allowing energy to be delivered by the electrode at a higher power levels for a longer duration.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
103 words
A method for cooling at least one spiral ablation electrode of an ablation catheter assembly comprising: positioning a tip portion of a catheter shaft of an ablation catheter assembly at a target site of a body organ; flowing cooling fluid through said at least one spiral tubular ablation electrode along a spiral path thereby cooling said at least one spiral tubular ablation electrode; whereby an improved lesion can be created by said ablation catheter assembly due to the efficient cooling of the tubular ablation electrode, thereby allowing energy to be delivered by the electrode at a higher power levels for a longer duration.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method according to claim 20 whereby said at least one spiral tubular ablation electrode creates a plurality of lesions which join one another to form said improved lesion.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method according to claim 20 wherein said positioning step is carried out with the target site being within a heart of a patient.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method according to claim 20 wherein said flowing step is carried out using chilled saline as the cooling fluid.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method according to claim 20 wherein the flowing step is carried out using at least one spiral tubular ablation electrode which is spaced apart from the distal end of the tip portion.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method according to claim 20 wherein said flowing step is carried out by flowing cooling fluid through a plurality of spiral tubular ablation electrodes.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method according to claim 20 wherein said flowing step is carried out by flowing cooling fluid through a perforated spiral tubular ablation electrode.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-06-21 | 2002-12-21 | 2003-06-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-06-21 | 2006-12-21 | 2007-06-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-06-21 | 2010-12-21 | 2011-06-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |